Previous rounds of talks have had similar aims but have ended up focused mainly on humanitarian issues and agreed on ceasefires to supply towns and cities under siege by Russian forces have frequently failed.

"Negotiations. 4th round. On peace, ceasefire, immediate withdrawal of troops & security guarantees. Hard discussion," Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak said online.

Writing at the expected start time of 10:30 a.m. Kyiv time, he said he believed Russia "still has a delusion that 19 days of violence against [Ukrainian] peaceful cities is the right strategy".

Russia denies targeting civilians, describing its actions as a "special operation" to demilitarize and "deNazify" Ukraine. Ukraine and Western allies call this a baseless pretext for a war of choice.

Moscow said earlier it saw no reason for United Nations peacekeepers to be sent to Ukraine, a prospect that had not been widely considered up to now. Pyotr Ilyichev, director of the ministry's international organizations department, said there was no need for peacekeepers as Russia was in control, RIA reported.

Moscow widened its assault on Sunday with an attack on a base near the border with NATO member Poland.

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